Dental tray



Aug. 5 1924. 1,503,580

' A. M. EPSTEIN DENTAL TRAY Filed April 25 1924 Wwfi. ,4/Aer/M f vm efn W .3 MM

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atented Aug. 5, i924.

ALBERT M. EPSTEIN, OF ELMIBA. NEW YORK.

DENTAL TRAY.

Application filed April 25, 1924. Serial No. 708,841.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT M. Ers'rnm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira, in the county of Chemung and State of New York, have invented a new an useful Improvement in Dental Trays, of which the following is a specification.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a comparatively inexpensive dental tray, so inexpensive that it can be used once and then thrown away; to provide a dental tray which, among other reasons than the one stated, is sanitary; to provide that the operator in the use of the tray may readily not only hold the same but also be advised of the temperature or condition of the plastic material and in addition may be assured that the plastic material will not overflow in the direction of the patients throat; to avoid disturbing or contacting with either of the lip muscles of the patient thereby insuring a good impression; to avoid absorption of moisture from the plastic material where the latter is mixed wet; to insure the retention of heat where the plastic material is used warm; and to; in general, provide an improved tray for dentists use. 1

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and the invention, generally stated, may be said to comprise a one-piece died or stamped dental tray consisting of chemically hardened fiber and having an open ended container for plastic material and a handle centrally channeled in the direction of the bottom of the container and communicating with the container to accommodate lip muscles and to provide for overflow'of plastic material and to afi'ord a finger-hold and feel, said fiber being non-absorbent in respect to plastic material and also anon-conductor of heat or cold. The invention also comprises the imgrovements to be presently described and nally claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have chosen from many forms of dental trays in which my invention may be embodied two characteristic forms in which the invention is embodied.

In the drawings Figure 1 is'a top or plan view of a dental tray embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of a Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

gig. 4 is a top plan view of a modification, an

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The dental tray consists of one piece and it is died or stamped. The dental tray is made of chemically hardened fiber. Chemically hardened cotton or wood fiber is a known commodity. The tray includes a container 1 open at the end 2. It happens to be shown with a dome-shaped central portion 3. This container receives plastic material such as moist plaster of Paris or warm wax. The handle 4 is centrally channeled in the direction of the bottom of the container and the channel 5 communicateswith the container as at 6. By this arrangement space is provided as at 6 for the accommodation of the muscle of either the upper or lower lip. This space also affords an overflow away from the throat of the patient for plastic material and the thumb or finger of the operator having a hold in the channeled portion of the handle is in position to feel the overflowing plastic material, thus permitting the operator to ascertain its temperature or condition of dryness. The tray is 'non absorbent in respect to moisture in the plastic material which in the case of plaster of Paris is advantageous, and the tray is also a non-conductor of heat and cold which is advantageous in the case of wax or like material.

The structure of the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is as has been above described except that the container 1 is open at the ends 2 and is intended for use in the rovision of a partial set of teeth, whereas tlie tray of the other figures is intended for use in the provision of a full or complete. set of teeth.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in details of construction and arrangement without departing from the spirit of the invention which is not limited as to those matters or otherwise than as the prior art and 5 the appended claim may require.

I claim:

A one-piece died or stamped dental tray consisting of chemically hardened fiber and having an open ended container for plastic 10 material and a handle centrally channeled in the direction of the bottom of the container and the channeled portion communieating with the container to accommodate lip muscles and provide for overflow of plastic material and to give a finger hold and feel, said tray being non-absorbent in respect to plastic material and also a non-conductor of heat and cold.

ALBERT M. EPSTE'IN. 

